Monday night, I arrive Shanghai. Delighted to see new Citibank ATM right after immigration at Pudong. Get 800 Yuan. Forget to take ATM card.

Later Monday night, I discover ATM card missing, but there is hope -- a huge, brand new "Shanghai Head Office" that Citibank has opened two blocks from my hotel in Pudong.

Even later Monday night, logon to Citibank online and get number to call collect. After much agony, hotel puts through collect call.

I learn (during a one hour collect call):

1. Citibank takes two weeks to fedex a new ATM card anywhere but your home address.
2. The fabulous new branch in Shanghai is in a "restricted country" (China) so cannot either make me a new card or provide an emergency account withdrawal.
3. Since I am going to Tokyo on Thursday evening, I can get an "emergency withdrawal" in Japan. However, Friday is a Japanese holiday, and on Saturday, while there is an open branch, they tell me they don't have any money on Saturdays. The Citibank operator suggests I rearrange my trip schedule.
4. I cancel the card and, giving up, ask for a new one to be sent to my home.

The next day: our local office calls Citibank Shanghai in Chinese and is told, "we check the airport ATM every Friday, not before."

Thursday, leaving Shanghai, I figure I might as well convert my excess Yuan to Yen, but discover that the Citibank ATM receipt is not an "official exchange receipt" so it cannot be done in China. In Tokyo, they do it, charging a horrible fee.

Friday: My Tokyo hotel is decent enough to give me a cash advance and add it to the bill.

Today: I try to check my Citibank online account and discover that my online access has been suspended.

Moral: Don't count on Citibank if something goes wrong!